1. THE CLASSICAL MEDITERRANEAN WORLD

2. I. Persia ( B.C.E.)
Combination of many early Mesopotamian cultures
Divided into 20 provinces
Each province allowed the locals to keep their original language, laws, and religion
Satraps – local governors – controlled the provinces
Main job was to collect taxes
Trade & communication helped by an intricate system of roads
Royal Road ran 1,677 miles and spanned over half of the empire
Birthplace of Zoroastrianism, an early monotheistic religion
Cyrus the Great – most famous Persian king

3. II. Greece
Greek civilization began to flourish around 800 B.C.E., peaking around 400 B.C.E.
Organized into city-states
Polis – Greek word for city-state
Typically found two types of government:
Tyranny – one absolute ruler
Aristocracy – based on the rule of wealthy members of society
Two city-states came to dominate: Athens & Sparta
Athens was a commercially successful and prided itself on intellectual and cultural achievements
Pericles was greatest ruler
Favored direct democracy – rule through vote by the people
Ordered construction of the Parthenon

4. II. Continued… Sparta was a strong military aristocracy
Dominated surrounding city-states through force
Not as commercially powerful, depended on network of slaves
Eventually, Sparta and Athens would come to war over control of Greece – Peloponnesian Wars
Greatly weakened Greece as a whole, allowed Philip II of Macedon to invade (around 350 B.C.E.)
Alexander the Great continued quest of his father, succeeded in conquering Greece, Egypt, Persia, and beyond (died 323 B.C.E.)
Empire only lasted briefly, but influence would last centuries
Hellenistic Period – Greek culture fused with Persian, Egyptian culture
Spread influence of Greeks well beyond Greece
Established important centers of trade and intellect, such as Alexandria, Egypt

5. III. Rome Two phases of ancient Roman history: Republic & Empire
Republic founded 509 B.C.E.
Representative government – citizens (free-born males) vote for leaders
Social groups
Patricians – landowners, aristocrats
Plebeians – farmers, artisans, merchants (could vote, but not hold office)
Slaves – captured during military campaigns, mostly agricultural work
Twelve Tables – first written Roman laws
Prevented laws from being misinterpreted
Became centerpiece of Roman Republic

6. III. Continued… Political structure of Roman Republic
Senate – originally 300 members, made up of landowning aristocrats
Consuls – two officials elected by Senate
One commanded army, one directed government workings
Limited to one year, couldn’t be elected again for 10 years
One consul could veto (override) another
Dictator – elected in times of crisis, absolute power over laws and military
Limited to six months
Growth of the Empire
Began conquering territories around Mediterranean by 264 B.C.E.
Punic Wars – series of battles between Rome and Carthage

7. III. Continued… Collapse of the Republic Rise of the emperors
As the empire grew, the republic weakened
Social unrest, military disorder, civil war
Economic problems
Huge gap between wealthy elite and rest of society
Landowners lived on huge estates, depended on slaves
By 100 B.C.E., about a third of the population were slaves
Cities were overrun by unemployed farmers, artisans
Problems in the military
More reliance on mercenaries, loyal only to commanders
Made possible for a commander to force themselves into position of power
Rise of the emperors
Julius Caesar
Successful politician and general, declared himself governor of Gaul (France) in 58 B.C.E.

8. III. Continued… Rise of the emperors Julius Caesar (continued…)
Many Roman senators feared Caesar’s popularity and power, demanded he return to Rome
Struggle between Caesar and his enemies ensues, Caesar triumphs
Elected dictator in 46 B.C.E., dictator for life in 44 B.C.E.
Those loyal to the idea of the Republic feared Caesar’s power
Assassinated in 44 B.C.E.
Civil War
After death of Caesar, power is juggled between three men
Octavian, Mark Antony, Lepidus
After series of battles for control, Octavian declared first emperor
Takes title, “Imperator Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus”
Oversees beginning of longest period of Roman prosperity, called “Pax Romana” – Roman peace

9. IV. Rise of Christianity
Prior to the 1st century C.E., Mediterranean World was melting pot of religious ideas and practices
Mix of polytheistic beliefs (Greeks, Romans) and monotheistic (Judaism, Zoroastrianism)
Neither Greece or Roman religious traditions became lasting traditions
Where did Christianity come from?
Jewish kingdom of Judea was taken over by Rome in 63 B.C.E.
Over the years, Roman law became more oppressive, many Jews believed a messiah would restore the kingdom
Many believed that to be Jesus
Popularity of Jesus was a concern to both Roman and Jewish leaders
Disrupted local leadership, teachings were often considered blasphemous
Arrest was ordered and sentenced to death by crucifixion (a common death penalty)

10. IV. Continued… Why/how did Christianity become popular?
Pax Romana made it easy and safe to travel – ideas travel with people
Common languages – Greek and Latin
A belief system that ignored wealth, status, nationality
Reaction by Roman government
For first couple of centuries, seen as opposition to Roman law and culture
Thousands crucified, burned, tortured for punishment and entertainment
Eventually, grew popular enough to be officially accepted
312 C.E. – Emperor Constantine wins battle, credits Christian god
Edict of Milan – Christianity becomes approved religion
380 C.E. – Emperor Theodosius makes Christianity official religion, thinking it would being order to the empire